No 4wd

[Ltutt1]

I hope someone can help me figure this problem out I have a 1988 gmc v1500 surburban serria classic it has a 350 engine a/c.the 4wd doesn’t work everyone I talk to says check the actuator on the front axle,it doesn’t have or is there a place for one,when I put it in 4wd the light comes on,I got underneath and everything is hooked up,now when I bought the truck the lady l bought it from said they took a gear out,so it wouldn’t work any help is appreciated thks

[richard wysong]

thats a solid axle truck so no actuator correct? does the front drive shaft spin in 4wd? if so then the problem is in the hubs more than likely. the light switch is on the transfer case so that is probably ok, its not likely that they disassembled the tc and removed a gear if that is even possible. it is possible they removed the spider gears in the front diff though. it shouldnt be that hard to isolate where the problem is if you jack it up on stands all 4 wheels off the ground and see what happens in 4wd. if you have 1 bad front hub the 4wd wont work. in park 4wd engaged the front drive shaft should not be able to turn and if you turn 1 front wheel the other should spin the opposite direction. if the hubs are bad the u joints at the end of the axle will turn but not the wheel